Stanchion



Jan. 2, 1951 A. H: MAGNESS STANCHION Filed Nov. 7, 1947 INVEN TOR. fiLsE/{T H. Mnswass BY Refit/Man 4 dmnmzaa AT TORNE YS Jun/mo,

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 STANCHION Albert H. Magness, Bel Air, Md.

Application November 7, 1947, Serial No. 784,695

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cattle stanchions and has specific reference to an improved locking mechanism which joins the separable parts thereof.

Cattle stanchions normally are provided with locking mechanisms adapted to secure the movable bar of the stanchion in closed relationship with the stationary bar. It has been found that these bar locks tend to snap open when cattle throw their heads back or suddenly pull away from the stanchion. Furthermore, the locking mechanisms are subjected to hard usage and tend to wear out rapidly. The working parts, particularly springs, become dislocated, or bent, or jarred out of alignment under the severe treatment they receive. 1

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a positive lccking'mechanism for use with cattle stanchions, wherein the locking parts are completely enclosed when in locked position, and thus secured against damage or accidental displacement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch device for a stanchion locking mechanism which is simply and inexpensively constructed, and which may be operated easily by the attendant.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel stanchion latch and mounting therefor, including improved means for movably connecting a movable stanchion bar with the relatively fixed portions of a stanchion whereby the movable bar may be positively secured, easily released, and its movement limited upon release.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a simple and sturdy stanchion lock assembly, characterized by marked utility and efficiency in operation, yet which is inoperable by any form of pressure exerted by cattle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a cattle stanchion embodying the present invention, with the dotted lines showing the movable stanchion bar in opened position;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the lock mechanism of the invention including the supporting" Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the locking mechanism taken along theline .55 of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, a conventional type of cattle stanchion is shown in Figure 1, the

stanchion being positioned on a suitable flooring Ill. The stanchion is shown as suspended from a stall frame it comprising bars [2 and securing brackets 13, by a support chain I4 and an anchor chain IS. The stanchion itself comprises a relatively stationary bar It which is provided with elbow extensions I1 and I8. A relatively movable bar I9 is pivoted at 28 on the elbow extension l8, for movement between a closed and an open position, the latter being shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

In accordance with the present invention, the stanchion shown is provided with a novel locking device for securing the movable bar 19 in a desired position, which includes means for enclosing all of the working parts of the lock against damage or accidental operation, and secures the bar I 9 positively in the absence of cumbersome or exposed auxiliary locking mechanism.

The locking device includes a sleeve 2!, suitably secured to the tubular extension I! as by bolts 22 and provided with flanges 23 which are attached to a suspending bracket 24 on the chain is bya bolt 25. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the sleeve 2| is provided with a laterally extending member 26 having vertical walls 2'! and a vertically depending back plate 28. These members cooperate to form a lock housing indicated generally by the numeral 29 open at its outer end and adapted to receive a locking mechanism indicated at 36, secured to the free end of the movable bar [9. The plate 28 is apertured centrally at 3|, to

permit passage of a latch connecting mechanism therethrough. depending flange 32 which serves as a stop member or guide for locating the locking mechanism 39 positively in home position. The vertical walls 21 of the housing 29 are provided with lugs 33 pcsitioned in opposed relationship on the inner walls thereof, for purposes to be described.

The locking mechanism 30 on the movable bar I 9 includes a sleeve 35 formed with flanges 35 adapted to be drawn together on the movable bar [9 by a bolt 35 or other suitable means to secure the sleeve 34. The sleeve 34 supports a latch housing 3'! formed integrally therewith and having a top plate 38, a base plate 39, and an end plate 40.

The plate 4!) is provided with a flange 4! extending perpendicularly therefrom in alignment with the aperture 3! in the plate 23. The flange The sleeve 26 is provided with a 4| serves as an anchor plate for connection with a connecting rod 42 secured thereto by a pivot 43. It will be noted that the ends of the pivot Q3 are so formed as to abut the edges of the aperture 3! when the latch mechanism 30 is in the home position shown in Figure 2, thus securing the locking device firmly against misplacement. The rod 42 is formed at its other extremity with a depending member is which engages with the plate 28 and thus serves to" limit outward movement of the movable bar it when the stanchion is opened.

The latch housing 3'8 receives a latching assembly indicated at 45 including two latch levers 411i and 41 p-ivotally mounted at their inner ends, to

a pivot member 48 secured by a nutAS to the latch housing 231. The levers 36 and M are provided with identical handles 59 for manipulation between a normal latching position as shown in Figure 3, and an unlatched position, attained by inward compression of the handles 49 against the action of a spring 5B mounted on the pivot member .48. The spring as: is provided with .end portions 5| whichengage with side walls 52 of the said levers to maintain the levers firml in a normallatching position, under spring tension.

.As shown best in Figure 2, the levers d5 and ll aregprovided with slots 53 which engage with the lugs 33 on the inner walls of the latch housing 31 to secure the levers :36 and 37.111 latched position, when the movable bar i 9 is moved to closed'posi tion as shown in Figure 1.

. Thelevers 46 and'ill are further provided with opposed plates 54 having arcuate grooves 55 adaptedto receive .a. guide post 56 secured to the latch housing 31. serve to guide arcuate movement of. the levers upon compression of the handles l!) and further to limit lateral expansion of the levers under'the tension of the spring 50 when thelatching mechanism is unlocked and withdrawn from the locking housing 2%. Thus it will be seen that the lever handles 49 always form a fork or a U shaped member, whether the mechanism is in locked or unlocked position.

As shown in the drawings, stanchions of this type conventionally are suspended by the strap or chain I4 at the top and anchored by the chain I5v at the bottom. The chains are arranged so as to give freedom of movement to an animal secured in the'stanchion. When not in use, the stanchion is usually left in the open position shown in Figure 1. In this case, the movablebar l9 may be positioned against the adjacent stall post l2 of the stall frame and is prevented from falling to the floor by means of the fork-forming latch levers 46 and 4?. However, even when the stanchion is open, the movable bar is at no time freed from connection with the stationary bar Iii, for-the. rod ilserves to maintain connection between the two bars at, all times, preventing the movable bar is from falling to the ground-if the fork formed by the. handles fails to engage with the adjacent .stall post 42. Similarly, the'rod 42 guides the movable bar It and its latching mem ber 30 to closed positionwhen the stanchion is closed. I

In ,operation, in order to swing the movable bar liito open position, one grips and compresses the extending. handles 49 of the latch levers 4.6 and 4] until they contract sufiicientl to free the apertures 53 from the lugs 33. The bar 19 and latch mechanism 30 are then swung free of the lock housing 29. It will be noted that an animal cannot disengage the mechanism by, pressing against .a. particular latch handle, for should one The grooves 55 and post, 55

latch handle be compressed from its locking position, the other will remain in engagement with its adjacent lug, locking the mechanism against disengagement. Both handles 49 must be compressed in order to free the mechanism.

To close the stanchion, the operator may push the movable bar l8 inwardl and the bar [9 will be guided automatically to home position by the rod 42, whereupon the latch mechanism 39 is again secured by the lugs 33 on the lock housing 29. As the movable bar is is moved towards ..closed position, the wedge-shaped latch mechanism is compressed until the slots 53 are opposite the lugs 33. The latch mechanism then expands underthe spring action to secure the movable bar in closed position.

It is to be notedthat the present invention provides a stanchion lock characterized by a minimum of projecting rods, bolts and similar elements which are liable to injure an animal, or are liable to become-broken and benta'nd render the stanchion inoperative. The stanchion. lock'parts are-completely protected from accidental operation, and are of simple and sturdy construction.

5 The locking mechanism is inexpensive to construct, and easy to install.

The specific embodiment of theinvention disclosed is intended to include all obvious modifications, use of mechanical equivalents or'changes in construction, shape, arrangement and combinationof parts; which may come within the scope of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1; In a stanchionincluding a fixed upright bar having coplanar upper and lower elbow extensions, .a movable bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said lower extension with its freeend swingable from an open to closed position'relative to the'free end of the upper extension, and extensible rod means connecting the free end of said movable bar with said upper extension and serving to guide said free end in alignment with the upper extension, the improvement comprising a pivot pin secured to the free end of said movable bar and coaxially aligned therewith, a pair of levers each having an end pivotally connected to. said pin, spring means resiliently urging the "said levers apart, a. socket member secured to the free end of said upper extremity and extending axially therefrom and adapted to receive said levers in said closed position, said socket member having an open free end and side walls diverging from the extension to said open end, and cooperative latch elements extending respectively from the inner. surface-of each Wall and the outer surface of each lever and interengageable when said levers are received in said socket to latch saidmovable bar in said closed position.

2. In a stanchion including a fixed upright'bar having coplanar upper and lower elbow extensions, a movable bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said lower extension with its free end swingable from an open to closed position relative to the free end'of the upper extension, and extensible rod means connecting the free end of saidmovable bar with said upper extension and serving to guidesaid free endin alignment with the upper extension, the'im-provement comprising a latch housing secured to the upper end of said movable bar and having a semicylindrical end wall coaxially aligned therewith, a pivot pin carried within said housing coaxial with said wall, a pair of levers each having anend pivotally connected to said pin, spring means resiliently urging the said levers apart, a socket member secured to the free end of said upper extremity and extending axially therefrom and adapted to receive said levers in said closed position, said socket member having an open free end and side walls diverging from the extension to said open end, and cooperative latch elements extending respectively from the inner surface 015 each wall and the outer surface of each lever and interengageable when said levers are received in ends extending from said handle, each. of said levers having an arcuate slot concentric with said pivot pin, spring means engaging said levers and urging the same apart, a second pin extendgaging said slots for limiting the outward di- 1 vergence of the levers from a plane including said ing between said upper and lower walls and en- 7 pins, a socket secured to the free end of said said socket to latch said movable bar in said closed position.

3. In a stanchion including a fixed upright bar having coplanar upper and lower elbow extensions, a movable bar having one end pivotally attached to the free end of said lower extension with its free end swingable from an open to closed position relative to the free end of the upper extension, and extensible rod means connecting the free end of said movable bar with said upper extension and serving to guide said free end in alignment with the upper extension, the improvement comprising a latch housing secured to the upper end of said movable bar and having a semi-cylindrical end wall coaxially aligned therewith, spaced parallel upper and lower walls extending perpendicularly to the axis of said movable bar, a pivot pi extending between said upper and lower wall coaxial with said end wall, a pair of levers each having an end pivotally connected to said pin and free ALBERT H. MAGNESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,191,228 Rasmussen a- July 18, 1916 1,364,405 Olson Jan, 4, 1921 1,364,413 schodron et a1. Jan. 4. 1921 2,426,399 Lipani Aug. 26, 1947 2,446,113 Spiller July 2'7, 1948 

